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EU makes UN debate debut

President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy will make a statement on behalf of the EU on economic growth and sustainable development at the United Nations’ General Debate on 22 September.

This general debate is the first since the adoption of resolution 65/276 in May 2011, granting the EU the opportunity – among other opportunities – to participate in the yearly general debate of world leaders and ministers. EU priorities for the meeting, agreed in June, cover peace and security, the environment, sustainable development and human rights.

President Van Rompuy will be joined by Commission President José Manuel Barroso, High Representative Catherine Ashton and four other European Commissioners.

Between them, they will attend a high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security, a high-level dialogue on climate change, a panel on global sustainability, and meetings on non-communicable diseases, desertification and the humanitarian response to the famine in the Horn of Africa.

HR Ashton’s agenda is dominated by discussions on the Middle East Peace Process, the ‘Arab Spring’, Libya, Syria and Somalia. But she will also attend events on combating terrorism and increasing women’s involvement in politics.

The week also saw the launch of the sixth annual UN-EU Partnership Report. "Improving Lives: Partnership between the United Nations and the European Union in 2010" conveys results of a vibrant partnership that spans over 110 countries across the globe. Through photos and text, the report gives a glimpse of the work carried out as partners.

When the Security Council approaches the final stage of negotiation of a draft resolution the text is printed in blue... What's in Blue helps interested UN readers keep up with what might soon be "in blue".

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